Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• Z.F. Baher ¹
• M.B. Rezaee ²
• M. Mirza ²
• B. Abaszadeh ¹

¹ Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands

² Academic member of Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands

Abstract

The influence of soil water stress on essential oil contents of Satureja hortensis L. was investigated. Five irrigation treatments determined that consisted of (i) a control which was irrigated to full field capacity during the growing season (FC), (ii) two moderate water stress treatments during vegetative (LS1) and flowering stages (LS2) and (iii) severe water stress treatments during flowering stages (HS).
The volatile constituents of the aerial parts of cultivated S. hortensis were isolated by steam distillation and analysed by GC/MS. Result showed that the oil acclimation under greater soil water stress increased significantly especially in severe treatment. This treatment at the flowering stage affected on the quantity of the essential oils more than the moderate stress in vegetative and flowering stages. The main oil constituents were carvacrol [44.5% (LS2), 42.6% (LS1)] and g-terpinene [40.9% (FC), 37.8% (HS)]. The amount of carvacrol increased under two moderate stresses but g- terpinene content decreased after moderate and severe stress.

Keywords

• Satureja hortensis L
• essential oils